The name Kulivan appears more Irish than Croatian. In researching the name, I discovered ‘Kuljevan’ and in particular a Marco Kuljevan, age 17 years and resident of Ragusa, Austria* who left Hamburg, Germany on August 27, 1892 aboard Scandia bound for the Port of New York and Baltimore. There are some interesting facts that suggest that Marco Kuljevan and Michael ‘Mike’ Kulivan (1875-1944) may be the same person. The most obvious is their identical birth year date of 1875 and close similarity in spelling of their surname. Also in the 1940 Harrison County, Mississippi Federal Census, Mike Kulivan lists his year of immigration as 1892, the same year that he left Germany and landed at the Port of New York.

*Ragusa is now called Dubrovnik, Croatia and is the seat of government of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia.

On April 8, 1901, at New Orleans, Michael ‘Mike’ Kulivan (1875-1944), a Dalmatian fisherman, married Beatrice Charlet Gibert (1884-1959?), a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and the daughter of Alfred C. Gibert and Louisa Fatter Gibert. Mike’s name on the marriage certificate appeared as ‘Michele Kuglievan’ very similar to ‘Kuljevan’.

The Kulivans lived at 1431 East Howard Avenue in Biloxi, Mississippi. Mike was the Capitan of several Biloxi schooners and in 1918 was employed by the Dunbar-Dukate Company.

Biloxi Trading and Packing Company

In September 1920, Mike Kulivan became an incorporator of the Biloxi Packing & Trading Company. The organization was composed of many of his fellow Croatian immigrant fishermen: Jake Rosetti, Vincent Rosetti, Vlocho Milion*, Grego Anticich, Mrs. Mary Anticich, John Skrmetta, and John Mavar. Frank Bosarge was the only non-Croatian in the company. Of these immigrant fishermen, John Mavar would become the most successful. (The Daily Herald, September 18, 1920, p. 4)

The Biloxi Trading and Packing Company was capitalized with $25,000 in stock with a par value of $1. Its mission was to ‘own, operate, lease factories and canneries and package vegetables, fruits, oysters, fish and shrimp.(The Daily Herald, September 18, 1920, p. 4)

In September, Grego Anticich, Mary Skrmetta Anticich and Mijo Anticich incorporated the Anticich Canning and Packing Company at Biloxi. The company evolved from the The Biloxi Packing & Trading Company which had been incorporated on September 20, 1920 at New Orleans. From the deed records of Harrison County, Mississippi, it appears that the Anticich family took control of the Biloxi Trading & Packing Company between August 1924 and August 1925 and began operating as the Anticich Canning and Packing Company.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Chattel Deed Bk. 53, p. 571)

*probably Bilaz Milian (1881-1946), a native of Dubrovnik, Croatia and became a resident of Biloxi in 1901. He became an American citizen on February 18, 1914 at Biloxi, Mississippi. Blaz Milian married Sedonia Perria (1882-1968), the widow of John Nadalich (1880-1919), in May 1920.

Alfred "Mike" Kulivan (1921-2003), age 81years, of Biloxi, died Sunday, October 19, 2003 in Biloxi. Mr. Kulivan was a native and lifelong resident of Biloxi. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. He was a retired shrimper and owner of the boat "Mark Anthony." He worked on the Biloxi Schooner and the research vessel Tommy Munro. He was the 1974 Shrimp King. Mr. Kulivan was a member of the Slavic Benevolent Association of Croatia. He was a member of St. Michaels Catholic Church and volunteer at Biloxi Seafood and Maritime Museum.

Charlene Kulivan (1947-2017) was born February 6, 1947. She received her degree as a medical technician and worked many years in the field of phlebotomy earning her the affectionate title, "The Vampire". She was an avid reader and animal lover. She spent her later years actively volunteering at homeless veteran shelters. Charlene married Steven J. Reed, who preceded her in death. Charlene expired at Milan, Illinois on 20 November 2017. She was survived by her three children; 4 grandsons, 2 great-grandsons, her sister, a nephew, many cousins and their families respectively. Cremation services were handled by Wheelan-Pressly Funeral and Cremation Home. The family requests any donations made in her name be made to charities that benefit the homeless and veterans.[The Sun Herald on Dec. 17, 2017]

REFERENCES:

The Daily Herald, “Charter of Incorporation of the Biloxi Packing and Trading Company”, September 18, 1920.

Bilaz Milian (1881-1946)was born on April 20, 1881 at Dubrovnik, Croatia and became a resident of Biloxi in 1901. He became an American citizen on February 18, 1914 at Biloxi, Mississippi. Blaz Milian married Sedonia Perria (1882-1968), the widow of John Nadalich (1880-1919), in May 1920. They had a son, George Edward Milian (1920-1979).

In 1930, Blaz, called 'Viloho', and Sedonia P. Nadalich Milian were domiciled at 510 Bohn street in Biloxi. He made his livlihood as

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Join Ray L. Bellande, already in the process of uncovering the history and genealogy of Biloxi, Mississippi, a wonderful and diverse community on the Gulf of Mexico. Named for the local Sioux Indian people, the Ocean Springs and Biloxi areas has been inhabited by Europeans since being founded by Iberville and his French Canadian soldiers of fortune and their French cohorts with the establishment of Fort Maurepas, in April 1699. The fascinating history of Biloxi is an unparalled adventure spaning five centuries.